Can Bookies Track Your Device & Detect VPN?
When placing bets online, many punters wonder just how much information bookmakers can access. From tracking your device and detecting VPN usage to identifying patterns like arbing, bookies have a range of tools at their disposal to monitor activity.
In this article, we explore how bookmakers may be able to see your IP address, how they detect VPNs, and why some users go to great lengths to hide their location or identity. We also look at how bookies spot arbing behaviour and what steps you can take to avoid having your account restricted or limited.
Whether you’re new to betting or are an experienced punter, understanding how bookmakers track and respond to user activity can help you make more informed decisions.
Can Bookmakers See Your IP Address?
Yes, they can, and they often do.
Your IP address is a set of numbers linked to your internet connection. Think of it as a digital postcode that gives websites a general sense of where you’re accessing them from.
Bookmakers may use this information for several reasons. For example, it helps them confirm that you’re in a region where their services are permitted. It can also play a role in monitoring account activity to ensure all interactions with their site fall within expected patterns.
If someone were to use tools that interfere with how an IP address appears, it might raise questions. In many cases, this can result in bookmakers requesting further checks to ensure that everything aligns with their platform’s policies.
It’s important to be aware that online betting should only be accessed in areas where it’s legal and regulated. If you choose to place a bet, make sure you’re doing so from a region where it’s allowed, and always remember to gamble responsibly.
Using a VPN: Can Bookies Detect VPNs?
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is designed to make it look like you’re connecting from a different location. This can sometimes appeal to people who want more privacy or who are trying to access content from outside their region.
However, most reputable bookmakers have systems in place to detect VPN use. These systems look for inconsistencies; for instance, if your account says you’re in one country but your IP address shows another. They may also analyse other device data or connection patterns.
At this stage, it’s worth being clear: using a VPN to alter how your location appears to a bookmaker is usually against their terms of service. If a bookmaker believes a VPN is being used to mask a user’s real location, consequences can follow.
These could include having an account frozen, losing access to any funds held there, or being removed from the platform entirely.
For players in countries with strict gambling laws, such as the UK, bookmakers are legally obliged to confirm that you are physically located in an area where their services are allowed. If you choose to play, doing so without being transparent about your location could mean you’re in breach of both the bookmaker’s terms and local regulations.
If you’re betting, it’s important to follow the rules set out by both your local authority and the bookmaker. Always keep things transparent, and gamble within your means.
Why Do People Want To Hide From Bookies?
There are various reasons why someone might try to remain anonymous or hide their activity from bookmakers. Some of these reasons might seem straightforward, while others may raise more serious concerns.
One common motivation is to get around regional restrictions. Online betting is not available everywhere, and some may be tempted to use tools like VPNs to gain access from areas where they ordinarily wouldn’t be allowed to join.
Others might try to work around account limitations. If someone consistently wins or uses particular strategies, their account could be flagged. In such cases, they may attempt to stay under the radar, possibly by creating multiple accounts or using different devices.
One type of behaviour that bookmakers specifically monitor for is arbitrage betting.
There are also those who prioritise personal privacy. Sharing information online, including your location, isn’t something everyone is comfortable with, so tools that obscure these details might seem appealing.
But even if privacy or access is the goal, trying to mislead a bookmaker about your location goes beyond just bending the rules. Bookmakers operate under strict licences, and they must only offer services to users in approved regions. These rules aren’t optional—they’re legal requirements.
If you choose to place a bet, doing so in a region where the platform isn’t authorised to operate can lead to serious consequences, even if a VPN is used to try to get around the restriction.
For that reason, it’s strongly advised that no one attempts to use VPNs to access betting platforms. Transparency with bookmakers protects not only the integrity of your account, but also your ability to engage with the platform in the way it was intended.
And as always: if you’re betting, do so responsibly and only within the limits of your personal circumstances.
How Bookies Detect Arbing
Arbitrage betting—or “arbing”—refers to the practice of placing bets on all possible outcomes of an event across multiple bookmakers, with the aim of locking in a guaranteed profit. While this may seem like a loophole, it is not permitted by most bookmakers, and those who attempt it often risk serious account restrictions.
Bookmakers have developed advanced methods to detect arbitrage activity, including:
- Bet Timing Patterns: Arbing often requires very quick bet placements when odds differ between platforms. Bookmakers can flag accounts that consistently place bets immediately after an odds shift.
- Odds Discrepancy Monitoring: Many bookmakers subscribe to odds comparison services. If they notice consistent betting on odds that are out of sync with the wider market, this can signal arbing.
- Market Selection: Arbitrage opportunities are more likely in niche or less-liquid markets. Repeated focus on these may draw attention.
- Consistent Profit Without Variability: Accounts that show little fluctuation in performance—consistently winning with low-risk bets—can appear suspicious, especially if combined with other indicators.
- Cross-Bookmaker Behaviour Analysis: While bookmakers can’t see your bets with competitors, patterns such as timing, bet size, and market selection can suggest linked activity across sites.
It’s important to understand that arbing is considered a breach of most bookmakers’ terms of service. Detection may result in stake limits, withdrawal restrictions, or full account closure. Even if no laws are broken, the platform reserves the right to protect its business model.
How To Stop Bookies Limiting Your Account
Account restrictions, like stake limits, suspended markets, or odds bans, are a common reality for accounts that show consistently profitable or atypical betting patterns.
While there’s no guaranteed way to avoid limits indefinitely, some bettors choose to take certain steps in an effort to keep their accounts active for longer. These behaviours aren’t foolproof and may not work for everyone, but they reflect common patterns observed among those trying to avoid early restrictions:
- Avoiding Obvious Patterns: Some bettors try to steer clear of repetitive stake sizes or always backing the best odds, which can stand out in account reviews.
- Not Always Taking the Top Price: Occasionally accepting slightly shorter odds is one approach some use to make their activity appear less focused on value alone.
- Mixing Up Bet Types: Including multiples, in-play bets, or selections from high-profile events can make an account seem more typical of the general customer base.
- Varying Stake Amounts: Rather than betting the same amount every time, some opt for different stake sizes to reduce predictability.
- Keeping Activity Separate: Bettors often avoid using the same IP address or device across multiple accounts to prevent appearing linked.
Bookmakers are free to manage their platforms as they see fit, including limiting or closing accounts. For those who value long-term access, adapting how they engage with betting platforms is a choice some bettors make.
As a final note, if you choose to bet, it should remain something you do for enjoyment. Only place bets when it feels right for you, and take breaks when needed. If it ever stops being enjoyable, there are free, confidential resources available to help. Please gamble in a way that supports your overall well-being.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.